Nation

Adam Adli claims trial to sedition charge

KUALA LUMPUR: Student activist Adam Adli Abd Halim has pleaded not guilty to a charge of uttering seditious words during a talk.

He is accused of committing the offence at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Jalan Maharaja Lela here between 8.55pm and 11.15pm on May 13.

Adam Adli, who has been suspended from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), bowed his head and attentively listened to his sedition charge.

If convicted, Adam Adli can be fined up to RM5,000 or jailed up to three years or both under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Abazafree Mohd Abbas asked the court to set his bail at RM5,000 saying that the charge was serious.

"Whoever has committed an offence has to face the consequences.

“Although (his actions) did not involve an element of violence but it invites (others) to commit violence,” he said.

Adam Adli's lawyer, Datuk S. Ambiga, objected to the bail and asked the court to release him on a personal bond saying that it was a frivolous case, smacks of selective prosecution and an abuse of criminal justice system.

She said that Adam Adli has also been remanded for five days, which was completely unnecessary in view of his charge.

Co-counsel N.Surendran said Adam Adli was expected to continue with his studies at UPSI in September.

Surendran said his client has a permanent residential address in Malaysia where he was staying with his parents and brother.

He said they would file an application at the High Court to strike out the charge saying that it was baseless.

The court granted bail at RM5,000 and set July 2 for mention.

Adam Adli's pensioner father Abd Halim Abd Hamid posted bail.

Upon his release, Adam Adli said that the police have treated him well during remand and there was no reason for him to stop his struggles.